Shire court facts for kids
A Shire court, also called a moot, was an important meeting in Anglo-Saxon England. It helped keep law and order in local areas. These courts also managed many other tasks, like collecting taxes for the king.
The idea for shire courts began in Wessex, a powerful kingdom. Over time, this system spread across England. Even after the Norman conquest in 1066, shire courts continued to exist. However, they slowly lost their power. They were officially ended by a law called the County Court Act in 1846.
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What Were Shire Courts For?
Who Attended Shire Courts?
An Earl usually led the shire court. Important local leaders, both religious and non-religious, were part of the council. The county sheriff, also known as the shire-reeve, was also there. After the Norman Conquest, the sheriff became the king's main representative. It seems that local bishops also led courts and decided outcomes. The sheriff then made sure these decisions were carried out.
What Cases Did Shire Courts Handle?
Most smaller legal problems, like theft, were handled by local courts called tithing and hundred courts in the south. In northern areas, they were called wapentakes. Shire courts mostly dealt with bigger civil issues, such as arguments over land.
Shire courts met at least twice a year. They acted like a court of appeal. A problem had to be rejected three times by a hundred court before it could go to the shire court.
Having many different courts sometimes caused confusion. This could delay legal decisions. It was possible for a very rich person to delay a judgment for a long time. But few people were powerful enough to do this often.
Where Did Shire Courts Originate?
The system of shire courts started in Wessex. It then slowly spread to the rest of England. A similar system was used in Wales, especially after the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. However, Wales kept some of its own unique legal practices.
Collecting Taxes for the King
Another key job of the shire court was collecting taxes for the central government. In Anglo-Saxon England, outside of towns, people often traded goods instead of using money. This was called a non-cash economy, based on barter or payments in kind (with goods).
The shire court helped turn these goods or food payments into coins. Members of the court were responsible for changing these payments into money for the king.
How Shire Courts Changed Over Time
After the Norman Conquest
Shire courts continued after the 1066 Norman Conquest. However, they lost their power over church matters. William the Conqueror created separate Ecclesiastical courts for the church. He did this to gain support from the Pope.
Over the next hundred years, the king's power over serious legal cases grew. This started with the Curia regis, which was the king's own court. By 1278, shire courts only handled civil cases involving small amounts of money (less than 40 shillings, which was 2 pounds sterling). They kept going until they were ended by the 1846 County Courts Act.
New Courts Emerge
In later medieval times, local criminal courts were led by a Justice of the Peace. These were people appointed by the king or queen. These courts later became what we know as magistrates' courts.
Higher criminal courts included special commissions and forest courts. These were led by a Justice in eyre, starting around the time of King Henry II. These traveling judges from the high court moved around different regions. By 1234, under King Henry III, this system developed into the Court of King's Bench. This court was permanently based in Westminster Hall.
Judges from the King's Bench were appointed to special commissions. These commissions would sit at assizes, which were like traveling courts. They usually happened in county courts every six months in county towns.
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